Chosen to Bear Fruit

"Chosen to Bear Fruit" - Matthew 3:8 John exhorted them to demonstrate their sincerity by bearing "fruit worthy of repentance." True repentance, as J.R. Miller wrote, "is of no use if it produces only a few tears, a fright (horror, terror, panic) of feeling, and a little fear." “We are to turn away the sins" we repent of and walk in "the new and clean ways of holiness."

I. Bear fruit worthy of repentance.

A. The fruit is actions, but also words.

1. The quality of the tree is also known from words.

2. There is no "good" tree that bears bad fruit and conversely (opposite) there is no "bad" tree that bears good fruit, impossible.

3. (Matthew 5:15-16) No one lights a lamp to put it under a bushel.

4. Instead, he puts it on the candlestick to shine a light on "everyone in the house."

5. It is not His intention that we should hold up the light of His teaching for ourselves, but that we should teach it to others.

6. We should have our light "shine" so that when others see "our good works," they will glorify our "Father who is in heaven."

7. The appeal of lives in which Christ lives speaks more than the persecution (influencing the person to change) of words.

8. (Mark 4:20) The good earth has a true acceptance of the Word, whatever the cost.

9. These people have truly been born again.

10. They are loyal subjects (servant, obey) of Christ, the King.

11. "Neither the world," "nor the flesh," nor "the devil" can shake your trust in Him.

12. Even among the hearers of good soil "there are various degrees of fertility (fertility, fruitfulness).

13. Some bear fruit thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold.

14. What determines the degree of productivity?

15. The most "productive" life is one that "obeys" the word "promptly," implicitly (implied, direct), and joyfully.

16. (Luke 13:9) "God gave the order of three years to serve Jesus," it was not wanted, because the time was up. The order had been given, "Cut it off"; divine patience had been exceeded again (a limit passes).

17. No nation and "no person" has any reason "to enjoy the care of God," "if he does not bear the fruits of righteousness" (honorable to God by humbling ourselves to walk with Him) to the glory and praise of God.

18. Man exists for the honor and pleasure of the Creator: when he does not serve this "just end," why should not the sentence of death fall upon "this sinful failure," and be removed from "being placed in privilege?"

19. (Luke 19:23) If he thought the master was "demanding," even more reason for him to "be diligent."

20. Besides, by having put the money in the bank, the master was satisfied”, that, few hearers, had to "cost the servant".

21. Here we see that the reasons for the loafer (wandering, idle) are always without reason.

22. So, the mine is taken away from him and given to the one who has negotiated best, since every prudent master promotes the one who serves him best in the business and "dismisses" the one who is not useful to him. (26)

23. (Luke 20:10) That those who enjoy privileges are like landlords who oversee the care of a vineyard and have to pay the corresponding rent.

24. The work in this vineyard of the Lord is laborious, necessary and constant; but it is also pleasant and profitable.

25. It is necessary to present to the Lord "the fruits" of this vineyard and render the services that the care of the vineyard shares (distributes it).

26. That it is the work of the ministers of Jesus Christ to call the attention of those who enjoy the privileges of the church, that they may yield to the Lord the spiritual fruits which are required of them.

27. (John 15:8) "When the children of God" "exhibit the likeness of Christ" to the world, "the Father is glorified."

28. People are forced to confess that He is to be "a great God when He can transform" such "wicked sinners" "into such godly saints."

29. "And be so My disciples."

30. This means that when we abide by Him, we show that we are His disciples.

31. Others can then see that we are true disciples, that we resemble our Lord.

32. (John 15:16) So that they would not have any tendency (current, pattern of behavior, influence) to become discouraged and give up (go back, slacken) in their path.

33. Jesus reminded them that it was He who had chosen them.

34. He chose them for eternal salvation, for discipleship, or "to bear fruit."

35. What is clear is that He had appointed the disciples for the "work that was set before them."

36. We "should" go and bear "fruit."

37. Fruits: the graces of the Christian life, love, joy, peace.

38. "Let your fruit remain."

39. So that you ask for everything.

40. The secret of efficacy is prayer. Amen